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When I wake up, I think I’m still at home in Catalpa Creek and, even though Noah and I shared a bed only a few times, I reach for him. Then I register that the sounds from outside aren’t songbirds and cicadas, but the shrill of a police siren and the constant rush of traffic noise from the interstate behind Sadie’s building.
My chest feels like it’s literally caving in and I press a hand to it and fight tears as longing washes over me. I want to feel Noah’s arms around me, to smell his warm scent, and hear his sexy chuckle in my ear so badly it hurts.
I force myself to sit up, even though I’m achy all over like I have the flu. Is this heartbreak? If so, I was smart never to fall in love before.
What I need to do is focus on work and get over missing that stupid small town and my meddling sisters and the man who looked at me like I was a firefly, magical and ephemeral and gorgeous.
“Gah.” I clutch my head in my hands. “When you think in purple prose, you know it’s time to punch yourself in the face.”
“I can help with that.”
I look up to see Sadie walking out of the kitchen, coffee mug in hand. Her roommate, Sam, will eventually move out, but he’s not gone yet, so I get the couch.
I reach for the mug, but she pulls it back.
“I know you did not just try to take my coffee. Have you forgotten what happens to anyone who messes with my coffee?”
“They have to experience your wrath and the silent treatment for a period not to exceed six weeks.”
She grins. “I’ve fucking missed you.”
“I’ve fucking missed you, too.”
“Coffee’s in the kitchen,” she says. “We need to get to work on time. I’ve got a meeting with the head of design for the children’s imprint.”
I stare at her. “What? That’s amazing. Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
“We were celebrating your triumphant return.” She pauses and studies me. “Did you get any sleep?”
When she says we celebrated, she’s being sarcastic. She actually fed me ice cream and held me while I cried most of the night. She’s an amazing friend.
“I slept great,” I lie, but I can’t force a smile.
“Do I smell coffee?” Sam emerges from his room already in a suit and tie.
“You do,” Sadie says.
“But I’ve got dibs.” I shoot off the couch and race into the kitchen, grabbing a mug from the drying rack next to the sink and filling it from the pot.
I turn with my full mug to see both Sam and Sadie staring at me, wide-eyed.
Sam calmly takes the pot and fills two mugs. He hands one to Martin as he joins us, in scrubs for his day as an ER doctor.
“Sorry,” I say. “I guess I got used to fighting with five other people for coffee in the morning.”
“No need to fight here,” Sadie says. “I always make enough and a little extra.”
Sam and Martin head out for work. Sadie and I shower and get dressed and, before I’m even sure I’m ready, I’m walking back into Tenth Avenue Books.
Everyone is busy or on the phone, which has to be why no one so much as waves to greet me. Do they even realize I’ve been gone for six weeks? Sadie is my only true work friend, but I at least have acquaintances here. Right?
Three people greet and wave to Sadie, but it’s like I’m invisible. I worked here for five years. Was I so focused on the job I didn’t interact with my co-workers? Was Sadie the only one who even knew I—
“Weston!” Fernwood bellows. “You’re late. See me in my office.”
“Here we go,” I murmur.
“Good luck.” Sadie squeezes my shoulder.
